Global cocaine production has reached an all-time high: in 2024, around 4.1 thousand tonnes of pure cocaine were produced in South America, according to the new World Drug Report 2026 published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
UNODC estimates that the figure ranges from 3,800 to 4,700 tonnes and is more than four times higher than the 2014 level. This makes the cocaine market one of the fastest-growing segments of the global illicit drug economy.
The UN notes that the growth in production is accompanied by an expansion of supply routes, changes in logistics and high levels of violence in countries of origin and transit. South America remains the main production region, with Colombia, Peru and Bolivia being the key countries involved in coca cultivation and cocaine production.
Colombia remains a key player in the global market. According to UNODC data, 966 tonnes of cocaine were seized in Colombia in 2024, accounting for around 40 per cent of global seizures. It follows that the total volume of cocaine seizures worldwide in 2024 may have amounted to around 2,400 tonnes. However, seizures do not reflect the entire market volume, but only the portion that law enforcement agencies were able to intercept.
Demand also remains high. According to UNODC data, around 25 million people worldwide used cocaine in 2024. This places it behind cannabis, opioids and amphetamines among the most prevalent groups of drugs.
North America remains the largest market for cocaine. According to UN estimates, in 2024 around 6.5 million people in North America used cocaine, representing 2 per cent of the population aged 15–64. Western and Central Europe are considered the second-largest market, where demand for cocaine has risen significantly over the past decade. South America and certain countries in Oceania also remain significant markets.
In Europe, according to the European Union Drugs Agency, EU countries reported 97,000 cocaine seizures totalling 330 tonnes in 2024. Spain, France and Belgium accounted for 67 per cent of this total. Spain seized 124 tonnes, France 53.5 tonnes and Belgium 44.6 tonnes. Significant quantities were also recorded in the Netherlands, Germany, Portugal and Italy.
European data suggests that the market is shifting its routes. A reduction in withdrawal volumes in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands does not necessarily mean a reduction in supplies. The EUDA points out that this may reflect a change in import methods and points of entry against a backdrop of tighter controls at major ports.
A separate trend is the emergence of processing and packaging facilities within Europe itself. In 2024, six EU countries reported the dismantling of at least 42 sites linked to the production or processing of cocaine. This suggests that the market is becoming more complex: some operations are being moved closer to consumers in order to conceal shipments and increase profitability.
The global price of cocaine varies significantly depending on the region, the level of risk, the distance from producing countries and the level of law enforcement pressure. In the countries of origin, the cost is significantly lower, whilst in distant markets – particularly in Europe, North America and Oceania – the final price can be many times higher. The UN and European agencies record not so much a single global price as a general trend: as production and supply have increased, the purity of the product at the retail level in Europe has risen, whilst the price index has fallen over the last decade.
As a result, cocaine remains not only a public health problem, but also a factor in organised crime, corruption, violence and the destabilisation of legitimate economies.